PAW-PAW FOUNDATION

The Paw-Paw Foundation, proudly sponsored by Frontline Underwriters, has been running a skills development training project for the past three years which has made a huge impact on the rural community of Inchanga 50kms outside of Durban.

“We have 100 orphaned / vulnerable children from this area who we give full music bursaries to. This means that once a week the child is transported to the Durban Music School for a practical, theory and choir lesson,” says fundraiser, Kim Matthews. “They have all been given an instrument which they take home so that they can practice and after their lessons, they receive a hot meal and food to take home for the week. We were able to give them a few months of HIV / Aids counselling and awareness. This we hope to continue on a permanent scale next year. We have also given them music stands and sheet music, uniforms and performance costumes.”

These young children regularly perform as a choir with the Durban Music School's senior ensemble, The KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band.

“These children also now have a hope for a better future and they are gaining a lot of self esteem and their school marks have improved,” Matthews continues. “Many are orphaned or come from families headed up by a young teenager, grandparent or single mother. Every year we give all 100 of these children a party during the last week of school and they all receive a gift which contains a Zulu Bible, sweets, biscuits, stationary, toiletries and a small present. For most of these children this will be the only Christmas party and gift they will receive. It costs us approximately R150 a box and we appeal to people to consider giving us financial help to enable us to bring some festive joy into their lives. We would really appreciate it if you would consider sponsoring this exceptional project and helping to improve children's lives which have been so badly impacted by the HIV / Aids virus.”

Banking details are: ABSA Bank, Paw-Paw Foundation, Account number: 9212965968.

More information from Kim Matthews, fundraiser for the Paw-Paw Foundation, on 083 626 9739.